Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Homemade Garden Stones

 
My husband is a sweetheart! For Mothers Day this year, not only did he get me a beautiful necklace, but he actually planned a keepsake craft for me from the girls. I'm not sure where he found the recipe, but he had them make Footprint Stones for my garden from only flour, salt and water. Not only was it sweet that he thought of this all on his own, but I was especially touched by his effort to write the recipe down and take a bunch of pictures so that I could share it with all of you. :)

Can't Get Started Without:
~Table Salt
~White Flour
~Water
~Paint in your choice of colours

The great thing about this recipe is that it uses only what you probably already have in your pantry. How convenient is that?! It is also so simple, that your little helpers can almost make it themselves. I know my little girls were ecstatic about getting to work with daddy to make something for mommy.

Step 1: Preheat oven to 200 F.

Step 2: Gather your little helper(s) and your 3 ingredients and add them together, starting with your flour.


And then your salt.

 
And lastly your water.

 
Step 3: Stir your ingredients with a wooden spoon until they start to stiffen.

 
 
Step 4: Take your stiffened mixture and knead it into a dough.


 
Step 5: Take your dough and shape it into a flattened circle. The size of your childs foot will determine the size of your circle.


At this point, after letting me sleep in (thank you honey!!) I was woken up to help take some photos while the girls made their footprints.

Step 6: Get your kiddos together and have them step those sweet little feet into the circles you've made. Make sure to help them put some good pressure down to get a good impression.

 
Step 7: Use a toothpick or some other small pointed item and carve what you want written into the dough. In my case, my hubby wrote 'M-day '13' and each girls initial. :)


Step 8: Carefully place your formed, footprinted and carved circles onto a non-stick or greased cookie sheet.


Step 9: Place in the oven and let bake for 3 hours.

 
......Fast forward 3 hours......

Step 10: Remove baked stones from the oven and let cool.

 
Step 11: Have your little helpers choose their favourite colours and get painting!

 
Daddy is a bit of a perfectionist and offered the girls a lot of help, but if you aren't too concerned with the finished product just give them the paint brushes and let them at it! :)

 
And, you're done!!

 
Step 12: Display your beautiful, personalized stones in your garden.

 
Mine are in my walkway garden as the first things you see on the way up to my front door. :)


I love my new garden decorations! They are bright and colourful, incredibly simple and inexpensive to make, and are obviously so special, because they were made for me by my family.

The Recipe:
~1/2 c. table salt
~1/2 c. white flour
~1/4 c. water


1. Mix salt, flour and water into medium sized mixing bowl with a wooden spoon
2. Knead until dough forms
3. Form your stone
4. Make impression
5. Bake at 200 F for 3 hours.



Linking up with these great parties:
 
ThePinJunkie
For the Kids Fridays at SunScholars.com
See Vanessa Craft
Photobucket
Pinterest Power Party
KitchenFun
 




6 comments:

  1. Those are just too cute. Your girls are adorable. I can't wait to make these with my grand children on my next visit.
    Thanks for the idea.
    I am your newest GFC.
    Have a wonderful weekend,
    Bev
    @ Eclectic Red Barn



    ReplyDelete
  2. Very nice, great idea to decorate the garden......!!
    stone garden ornaments

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh he is definitely a sweetheart and the kids are so sweet and adorable! They are really cute and i loved what your husband did! He is such a darling for doing that. It is such a great idea. The ids must have enjoyed it and loved seeing those stones in the garden.

    Rock-Artisan.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Are they safe outside- did they dissolve when it rained?

    ReplyDelete